Teen out of hospital after being run down by truck

ROSWELL, Ga. - A Roswell teen seriously injured when a pickup truck ran over him three weeks ago is home from the hospital and starting a long road to recovery.

Cyril Teal, 17, spoke to Channel 2's Mike Petchenik about the incident on Holcomb Bridge Road that left him with two broken hips, a broken arm and other injuries.

"It's all a blur, the whole day is a blur," Teal said. "I just remember waking up in the hospital."

Roswell police said Kevin Kissell, of Canton, may have been driving under the influence of drugs June 8 when he drove his pickup across several lanes onto the sidewalk near Riverwood Lane, pinning Teal underneath.

Police said charges are pending against Kissell as they await the results of a toxicology test. Kissell told Petchenik a few weeks ago that he was sorry about what happened, but would not admit to being high behind the wheel.

"I just know that God, he really brought me through this whole thing," Teal told Petchenik from a wheelchair in his mother's living room.

Teal will be confined to the chair for three months as his injuries heal.

"I have my mind focused on doing things, getting out of this situation early," he said. "I would like to be done before three months."

Teal's mother, Tia Merriweather, told Petchenik until then Cyril will be completely dependent on his family to get around. Her townhome isn't wheelchair accessible, so Teal will be confined to the living room.

"It's totally changed our life, big time," said Merriweather. "We're glad to have him back home but at the same time there's still hurdles for him to jump over."

Teal, a track star at Centennial High School, told Petchenik he would like to rehab enough to continue running. He said he'll never take walking for granted again and believes nobody else should, either.

"It's something that can be taken away, that I've had taken away, and I want it back," he said.

Teal said he would like to see Kissell pay for what happened to him.

"I think he should just go to jail because I could have died in this situation," he said.

The family has hired an attorney, who told Petchenik if and when Kissell is charged, they plan to file a lawsuit seeking to recoup damages.

"His life has been altered, as has the life of his family," said Anthony Van Johnson. "We expect to pursue a significant amount."